U.S. Vice President Mike Pence has reaffirmed the United States' commitment to a strong alliance with Australia, before saying Malcolm Turnbull's grandchildren had made a big impression on his wife.

In a meeting with Australian and U.S. government officials Mr Pence said he had spoken to U.S. President Donald Trump earlier on Saturday morning.

'He wanted me to pass along his very best regards to you, and the President wanted me to be here early in this administration to reaffirm the strong and historic alliance between the United States of America and Australia,' Mr Pence said.

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U.S. President Mike Pence has reaffirmed the United States' commitment to a strong alliance with Australia, before saying Malcolm Turnbull's grandchildren had made a big impression on his wife. Pictured are the two families in the grounds of Kirribilli House

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence (left) said 'the U.S. is one of Australia's closest allies and truest friends'. He is pictured meeting Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull (right)

Mr Pence, pictured left with US government ministers, spoke with Mr Turnbull, at Admirality House. He said: 'The warmth of the welcome for our little family reflects the warmth and the feelings between the people of the United States and people of Australia'

Mr Pence then said how impressed his wife Karen was with Mr Turnbull's grandchildren, commenting that he 'didn't have any yet'.

Mr Turnbull said: 'She nursed little Alice so wonderfully, Daisy said she is welcome to take over babysitting. She is certainly very enthusiastic'.

Foreign minister Julie Bishop then commented: 'That's a new exchange program' amid laughter from other ministers in the room.

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U.S Vice-President Mike Pence arrived at Kirribilli House about 9am on Saturday morning to meet with Mr Turnbull Prime for a day of high level talks, including the North Korea war threat.

Tensions between the US and the North have soared recently following a drumbeat of missile tests and fears that Pyongyang may be readying a sixth nuclear test.

'Our expectation is that they will be in the Sea of Japan in position in a matter of days, before the end of this month,' Mr Pence told reporters in Sydney.

'(What) the regime in North Korea should make no mistake about, is that the United States has the resources, the personnel and the presence in this region of the world to see to our interests and to see to the security of those interests and our allies,' he said.

Mr Pence said Mr Turnbull's grandchildren had made an impression on his wife Karen. Mr Turnbull commented his daughter Daisy had said she was welcome to take over babysitting

Mr Pence said a peaceful outcome with the Korean peninsula was still achievable because of warming ties between Beijing and Washington.

'We truly believe that, as our allies in the region and China bring that pressure to bear, there is a chance that we can achieve a historic objective of a nuclear-free Korea peninsula by peaceful means,' Mr Pence said.

'We are encouraged by the steps that China has taken so far,' he said at a joint news conference with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.

Mr Turnbull said it was 'self-evident' China was capable of applying more pressure ton North Korea, but dismissed questions whether Australia would be involved in any future regime.

'At this stage, the support we are providing is at the level of diplomacy [and] is of critical importance,' Mr Turnbull said.

'We are quietly confident, I would say, that China will step up to this challenge and responsibility.

'China has a leverage, an ability to influence North Korea that far exceeds any others.

'As I said earlier this week, the eyes of the world are on Beijing. We seek leadership from China to join the leadership shown by the US and Japan and Australia and other nations around the world committed to peace.'

Mr Pence (left) was officially welcomed by Governor General Sir Peter Cosgrove (right) at Admiralty House, before a day of high-level talks

High on the agenda of talks will be the security threat posed by North Korea, the war in Syria and trade. Pictured is Mr Pence (left) and Sir Peter Cosgrove (right) walking in the grounds of Admirality House

Mr Turnbull shook hands with Mr Pence in front of flashing cameras at Kirribilli House – the official Sydney residence of Australia's leader.

Heavy security surrounded Kirribilli House on Saturday ahead of Mr Pence's arrival – with armoured police, bomb sniffer dogs and cars being towed before his motorcade drove into the gates.

Mr Pence arrived from his hotel in the city with tight security, causing the Sydney Harbour Bridge to be closed, reported Sky News.

Mr Pence was officially welcomed by Governor General Sir Peter Cosgrove at Admiralty House, before talks with Mr Turnbull and government officials from Australia and the U.S.

Mr Pence arrived in a motorcade about 9am with tight security from his hotel in the city, causing the Sydney Harbour Bridge to be closed

A large police contingent were patrolling the streets nearby and police helicopters were hovering overhead during his arrival. Pictured is his motorcade outside Kirribilli House

High on the agenda is the security threat posed by North Korea, the war in Syria and trade.

Mr Pence and Mr Turnbull are due to address the media at 11.30am.

The pair will then be joined by senior government ministers and business leaders including Qantas boss Alan Joyce for a lunch in the gardens of Admiralty House.

Mr Pence will end his day of official engagements by meeting Opposition Leader Bill Shorten and business leaders in the city.

Mr Pence touched down in Sydney on Friday night to begin a three-day visit as part of his tour of the Asia-Pacific region.

He was greeted by Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce amid tight security after stepping off his Air Force plane with his wife Karen.

Mr Pence then waved as he got into a black limousine surrounded by Secret Service agents and was driven towards the city in a long motorcade.

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence (pictured with wife Karen) touched down in Sydney on Friday night to begin a three-day as part of his tour of Asia

He was greeted by Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce (L) amid tight security after stepping off his air force plane

'Hello Australia! Busy day of meetings start tomorrow,' the official U.S. Vice President Twitter account wrote, with a photo of Mr Pence leaving the plane.

The visit will shut down dozens of Sydney roads and see the streets flooded with police.

Special clearways will be set up in and around the Sydney CBD, Kirribilli and Mosman between 10am Friday and 10am Monday, when he leaves for Hawaii.

Donald Trump's deputy will 'have the road to himself' during his stopover as part of a 10-day tour of tour of key Asia-Pacific allies, causing traffic chaos over the weekend.

His 'substantial' motorcade will travel through the city to Kirribilli and Mosman for meetings with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove.

Mr Pence disembarks the plane holding hands with his wife and followed by daughters Charlotte and Audrey

Mr Pence waved as he got into a black limousine surrounded by Secret Service agents and was driven towards the city in a long motorcade

Mr Pence would stay at the Intercontinental Hotel on Macquarie Street, take a harbour cruise, and address the media in the CBD on Saturday afternoon.

NSW Assistant Police Commissioner Mark Murdoch admitted the visit would be 'inconvenient' and cause 'disruption' as roads were closed ahead of the motorcade.

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He said it would travel through a 'secure road corridor', which was code for 'enclosed road'.

'He'll have the road to himself and those road closures will be put in place just before the motorcade hits a particular area,' he said.

The visit will shut down dozens of Sydney roads and see the streets flooded with police

Mr Pence and family inside the car that will take them to their hotel in the Sydney CBD

'Hello Australia! Busy day of meetings start tomorrow,' the official U.S. Vice President Twitter account wrote, with a photo of Mr Pence leaving the plane.

'(The motorcade vehicles) are substantial and anyone on the road at the time the motorcade goes past will get a good sense of how large they are. All the vehicles in the motorcade have a role.'

The streets would be lined with tactical police squads, traffic and mounted police, general duties police and highway patrol - along with U.S. Secret Service.

'They are a big deal. The U.S. Secret Service take all overseas visits by their heads of state very, very seriously,' Mr Murdoch said.

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence with his wife Karen wave before heading to Australia on Friday, where they will shut down dozens of roads in Sydney over the weekend

Mr Pence speaking at a business forum in Jakarta on Friday during his Asian tour

Mr Pence (R) and wife Karen Pence (L) pose with U.S. sailors and Marines on the flight deck of the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan in Japan

People will see 'a range of police resources' around the CBD and Sydney Harbour, and those planning to use public transport, including ferries, are being advised to check ahead for any disruptions.

'There will be a range of traffic changes and a number of special event clearways that will be put in place to facilitate the movements of the vice president, and to ensure minimum disruption to road users,' Mr Murdoch said.

'It is our aim to strike a balance between the security needs commensurate with visits of this kind and the needs of the community.'

The vice president is accompanied on his 10-day tour of key Asia-Pacific allies by his wife Karen and two daughters, Charlotte and Audrey.

Mr Pence is touring Asia to reassure the region of the U.S.' commitment

Indonesian President Joko Widodo and first lady Iriana (right) welcome U.S. Vice President Mike Pence and his wife Karen Pence (left) during their meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Thursday

Mr Pence waves to the media as representatives of the permanent members of ASEAN look on during his visit at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Thursday

The delegation has already stopped in South Korea, Japan and Indonesia in a trip aimed at reinforcing traditional US alliances.

Mr Pence is expected to turn on the charm for Malcolm Turnbull after that notorious phone call in January, when US President Donald Trump blasted the Australian prime minister over an asylum-seeker deal.

Mr Turnbull says he's looking forward to meeting Mr Pence.

'It is very noteworthy that this is a very early visit, I believe the earliest visit by a vice president to Australia, in the new administration,' he told the ABC's 7.30 program on Thursday.

'Many people - including wise people in the media - were sceptical of the Trump administration's commitment to the region, and as you can see the commitment is very real.'

A protester holds a placard during a protest against the visit of US Vice President Mike Pence in Sydney

Mr Turnbull is pictured during a press conference on Thursday at Parliament House in Canberra

Protesters against the visit of US Vice President Mike Pence

Speaking on Sunrise on Friday morning, Mr Turnbull said he and Mr Pence would talk about regional security, North Korea, the global battle against terrorism and the Islamic State, as well as trade.

Mr Turnbull reiterated the government was 'really appreciative' for the early visit and said the U.S. and Australia are 'very close allies'.

A group of activists are expected to protest against a 'war alliance' between the U.S. and Australia.

The Sydney Stop the War Coalition is holding a protest at Town Hall from 5.30pm demanding to break the alliance, close the U.S. bases, provide aid not bombs, and welcome refugees.

NSW Greens Senator Lee Rhiannon is expected to address the protest, among other speakers.